Steering mechanism for tractors.



A. HOVLAND.

STEERING` MBGHANISM FOR TRACTORS. APPLICATION FLBD JAN. 3, 1911.

:l U41 S., Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. HOVLAND.

STEERING MECHANISM POR TRAGTORS.

APPLICATION HLBD JAN. a, 1911.

1,041,086. Patented 001;. 15, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

thereon.

:alive there'oi so that the latter serve as a segmental. rum. for the-said chains ve to maintain a constant leverage iout the pulling` actions of the chains The chains 8 arepassed over idle guide sheaves 10 mounted on the intermediate portion oi' the main frame 5 and at-their inner are attached toI and wound upon a windlass drum 11. -l or convenience, the said chains 8 are described inthe plural, but they may, and frequently Will be made as a single chain, the intermediate portion of which works on a Windlass drum or wheel 11, having aI channeled periphery with sprocket-like recesses that prevent slipping -1 E the chain thereon. The said Windlass drum 1l is shown as secured to a short npr-ight shaft 12 journaled in suitable'upper and lower bearings 13 and 14 in a trans ver-se tie oar 15 of the main frame 5. On tire intermediate portion of the Windlass l2 is 'Worm gear 16 that meshes with Worm 17 secured to the front end of a small horizontal shaft 18 journaled in` a bearing bracket 19 secured to the upper hearing 13. At its rear end, the shaft 18 is provided with a bevel gear 20 that meshes with a pair of reversely beveled pinions 21 and 22. The pinions 21 and 22 are loosely journaled on a transverse driving shaft 23 journaled in suitable bearings on the main ramel and provided at one end With a pulley-2e oi er which an engine driven belt,

not-showm'is adapted to run to impart rotary movement in a continuous direction to the said driving shaft.

Keyed to the shaft 23.and mounted to slide thereon between the pinions 2l and 22 is a double-ended friction clutch sleeve 25, the ends of 'which are adapted to he engaged at will. 'with internal cone-shaped friction clutch seats 26 formed in the said pinions 21-22. AThe ends of the clutch sleeve 25 are adapted -to be thrown intoyengagement at will with the clutch seat of either of the two pinions 21-22, by a ship er lever 27 Which, as shown, is intermedia 'ely pivoted to a bearing'bracket 28 rigidly secured on one of the transverse tie bars 29 of the main .traine 5. The rear end of this shipper lever 2'? is connected by a link 30 to a crank 31 formed on the lower end of/a manually controlling lever 32 pivotally mounted at its lower end to small bearing 33, shown as secured on one or' the transverse tie bars 34 v of the 'main traine 5. By manipulations of theV lever 32 the clutch sleeve 25 may be frictionally connected at will to either of the pinions 21-22, and hence, the steering Inovements of the wlreels 2 may be controlled by shaft B5 which is journaled in snit ings 36 secured on the transve and 37 of the main frame 5. end, the rock shaft 35 is prov. ,a pending arm 38, and at its rear vided with` a depending arm which la. as shown, is connected to the rear por' I of the shipper lever 27 by having its lower end passed through a pertorati. For action on'the arm 38, trippin abutinentse() are secured to the arenf at suitable points on each side oit the c i thereof. These .tripping Aabutmerrts et' are so located-and related to the other tF that when the .steering Wheels are "it treme movement in either direction, ont. or 8 the other of said ahutxnents 1'will engage arm 38' and rock the 'shalt 35 the Wardl moved steering 'wheel is allowed te come into contact with the main 5., Furthermore, Athe arrangement oi the parts et the shipper lever 27 and tri'ctio. clutch sleeve 25 is such that when the 35 is rocked by engagement oit the inivai y moving abutment l-O therewith, the clutch sleeve 25 will be disengaged from the par- $0 ticular pinion 21 cir-22, as the case may he, and .thus automatically throw the said clut f out of action or render the same inoperative to continue themovement of the inwardly moving steering Y Wheel toward the con tracted portion of said frame 5.

With this construction,y the operator is free to use the controlling lever 32 impart steering movements to the steering Wheels Without giving any attention,v Whatever, to lo extreme movements and Without any danger Whatever of extreme movements doing any damage to any part of the tractor. The device, furthermore, is of smallcost.

The improved steering mechanism is espe cially designed for heavy tractors 1out may be employed generally as a steering mechanism for vehicles having Wheels mounted to oscillate to impart the steering movements to such vehicles.

What l claim is:

1. The comfoination with a vehicle having a; Wheel equipped steering element, of a Wind lass drum With reversely acting Horrible connections With the said steeringelement, la reversible `drive With connections yor rev'ersely driving said Windl-ass drum, a manw ually operated controller for said reversible drive and automatic tripping device on said flexible connections, for throwing said. drive 12e out of action at predetermined limits oit movement of said steering' element.

" 2. The combination with. a ve having' a Wheel equipped steering clement vequipped with an arch bar, of a Windlass drum having reversely acting flexible connections tached to opposite sides of said ch har., reversible drlveconnected to said 'windlass drum and including a reversely acting fricpending arm, substantially and for the tion clutch, a shipper level connected to the purposes set forth. 1C movable element of the seid friction clutch, In testimony whereof I affix my signature a manually operated controlling lever conin presence of two witnesses.

nected to said shipper lever, ay rock shaft AUGUST HOVLAND. connected to said shipper lever and pro- Witnesses:

vided 'with a. depending arm, und abutments ALICE V. SWANSON,

on said arch bar operative on the said del HARRY D. Grimoire. 

